County Paves The Way For Hagen Road's `Missing Link'

Construction of Hagen Ranch Road's so-called "missing link" west of Boynton Beach could begin this summer with financing approval given on Tuesday by the Palm Beach County Commission.

The third mile of the two-lane road north of Boynton Beach Boulevard has been debated for six years.

In trying to stop the road from being built, traffic-conscious residents of the Aberdeen community paid for a study that showed other roads would not be negativelyaffected.

But by the time of the commission meeting, residents and representatives of Aberdeen, and their district representative, Warren Newell, recognized the roadway was likely to be built and instead chose to pitch a series of safety proposals.

To slow down traffic in the missing link, the commission approved construction of a large, circular median called a "roundabout."

-- Adding more roundabouts on Hagen Ranch Road where it intersects with LeChalet and Gateway boulevards.

County engineering staff favored completing the estimated $420,000 "missing link," saying it would eventually allow for a north-south road from Atlantic Avenue to Lantana Road.

It was favored by residents from Lake Charleston and Rainbow Lakes communities who want another road to avoid traffic on Jog Road and Gateway Boulevard.

"That road has got to be finished," Chelle Konyk of Rainbow Lakes said. "We have people who built their homes based on that."

Commissioners said they would consider additional roundabouts on Hagen Ranch Road, but in conjunction with construction of others throughout the county in areas where traffic signals or stop signs have failed to prevent crashes.

Commission Chairman Burt Aaronson said a roundabout placed on Cain Boulevard west of Boca Raton has proven to be effective.